"There's personality in a great embrocation," says Peter Smith, founder of Massachusetts embro formulator Mad Alchemy. (And as the man who brought us a leg-searing winter balm made from Russian tea, and a Las Vegas–inspired leg cream containing gold sparkles, he should know.) "Embrocating can bring friends together, spark conversation, and allow you to feel closer to our sport."

Although it's not the hottest embro in the Mad Alchemy line, the Medium formula packs a fairly strong burn, and the company recommends it for temperatures below 60 degrees F. Testers praised its warmth and staying power, but warned that like many embros, it's prone to reactivation if not fully removed. "The dark-orange color leaves your skin looking tan and shiny," enthused one pasty-legged tester. "And the satisfying, spicy aroma says, 'Cyclocross is here!'"

Inspired, the company says, by the herbs of Mont Ventoux, Rapha's embrocation has a mild, pleasant scent, as well as a subtle warming sensation that proved effective even in 40-degree temps. Testers reported that it went on smoothly and was easy to apply, and appreciated its tin packaging in a field of plastic jars.

In Belgium, you actually see a lot more of this homemade, make-do concoction than you do pre-made embros. "It's sort of like how we think Chimay is so Belgian, but the real go-to beer over there is Jupiler," explains editor-at-large Bill Strickland. "This is our Jupiler."

There are advantages to kicking it old-school. If you forget your embro, a trip to Walgreens gets you everything you need. You can make a bunch for about half the cost of a boutique embro—and tinker with the formula to suit the conditions. Need more warmth? More Ben Gay. Not wet? Skip the Vaseline. The light-to-medium heat of the Ben Gay starts to work fast. It also rubs in quickly, and absorbs well, and won't stain clothing nearly as easily as a tinted balm. Still, this combo is best suited for cyclocross races and rides lasting up to an hour: The heat on the BenGay tapers off, and the Vaseline eventually absorbs.

Bicycling's signature embrocation cream was developed with Mad Alchemy for a mellow warmth. Appropriate for all skin types, it’s biodegradable; gluten-free; cruelty-free; nearly vegan (it does contain beeswax); and free from alcohol, phthalates, and many other unwanted additives. Plus it's got a unique vanilla-c0conut scent, so you can pretend you're in Hawaii while you're slogging through slush.

"Embrocation is like peanut butter," says Rapha-Focus cyclocross star Jeremy Powers. "They're not all created equal and what's good for one person might not be good for another." Prefer not to feel the burn? Then this is the embro for you—it had no detectable warming element, but provided a colorless, windproof layer of protection. Sweet almond oil, rosehip oil, and rosemary make for a pleasant smell. The concoction was created by a physician and Cat. 2 cyclist who pledges to use only natural ingredients in his products, which also include chamois cream and saddle-sore ointment.

Hot and hard-to-find (we ordered ours from New Zealand), Qoleum is the subject of an intellectual-property dispute that at least one expert tester felt "added to the mystique." Testers also praised it for its scent and for being easy to apply.

Sportique goes on smoothly and easily, and soaks in so it's more or less invisible with minimal rubbing—making it a good choice for sunny days. One tester reported that the "aromatic but not overpowering" smell earned compliments in the women's locker room; another wished for a stronger scent. It's not a super-hot formula—it produces more of a "tingle" or "glow" than a burn—but testers unanimously reported that it loosened and invigorated their muscles.

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